Fluorescent fixture auxiliary light

ABSTRACT

An auxiliary lighting unit for use with a fluorescent fixture of the type having a recessed ballast well is provided. The unit comprises a removable cover for the ballast well to which is mounted a self-contained power source and bulb connected to the power source. Switch means are provided which interconnect the power source and bulb. The switch means are normally held OFF but adapted to switch ON in the event of a disruption in the normal power supply to the fixture thereby enabling the auxiliary bulb to act as an emergency light. The unit may also include a photocell positioned to detect when the main light bulbs are turned off and to interconnect the emergency bulb and normal power supply at that time thereby enabling the auxiliary bulb to act as a night light.

United States Patent [1 1 3,860,829

Fabbri 1 Jan. 14, 1975 FLUORESCENT FIXTURE AUXILIARY PrimaryIfxaminer-Rbert K. Schacfcr LIGHT Assistant E.mminerM. GinsburgAttorney, Agent, or FirmKunc, Dalsimcr, Kane,

[75] Inventor: William C. Fabbri, Billerica, Mass.

Sullivan and Kurucl. [73] Assignee: Keene Corporation, New York,

NY [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1973 .i

An auxiliary hghtmg unit for use with a fluorescent PP NOJ 387,386fixture of the type having a recessed ballast well is provided. The unitcomprises a removable cover for LS. CL n R llllC ballast well to WlllChis mounted a self-contained 315/86 power source and bulb connected tothe power l] Int. Cl. H02j 7/00 Source" Switch means are Provided whichinterconnect 58 Field of Search 307 66, 64; 315 86; the POWer Source andbulb- The Switch means are l l l 5 1 C but adapted to SWItCh in theevent of a disruption in the normal power supply to the fix- [56]References Cited ture thereby enabling the auxiliary bulb to act as anemergency light. The unit may also include a photo- UNIFED STATESPATENTS cell positioned to detect when the main light bulbs are2,504,381 4/1950 Bordelon 200/167 R X turned off and to interconnect theemergency bulb R i 1 and normal power supply at that time thereby en-3659l79 4/1972 532 H R abling the auxiliary bulb to act as a nightlight. 3,688,l23 8/1972 Walker 3l5/86 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures V 40 4i A; 32 p /5 4 1 i h. l 30 I), :34 ll U I 30 l! 3 i ,2 3; 22 M 25 x K I7 2a v 2% V i a. une, v MM M {4 45, h 6

, T Y, T T 51 G 42 6g? Z2 I (22 PATENTEDJANWHTS 3.860.829

' SHEET 10F 3 FIG. 2

PATENTEI] JAN 1 4 I975 sum 20F 3 FLUORESCENT FIXTURE AUXILIARY LIGHTBACKGROUND THE INVENTION The present invention relates to auxiliarylighting fixtures and more particularly to a lighting unit for use witha fluorescent fixture as an emergency or night light.

Emergency lighting systems are commonly used to provide limitedillumination in the event of a disruption in normal electrical powerservice. Such systems usually utilize rechargeable batteries connectedto a low wattage bulb through a relay which is held open by the normalflow of current from the main power supply. In the event of a disruptionin the main power service, the relay closes thereby connecting thebattery to the low voltage bulb and providing emergency lighting for aslong as the battery lasts. To this end, during periods of non-use, therechargeable battery itself is connected to the main power supplythrough suitable'rectifiers and switches to insure that the battery isalways properly charged.

I-Ieretofore, emergency lights were either selfcontained, separate andapart from the main lighting system or incorporated in special fixturesof the main system. While such systems are satisfactory for manypurposes their principal drawback is that they are not flexible and donot readily permit rearrangement.

In view of the above, it is the principal object of the presentinvention to provide an emergency lighting unit adapted to be used witha conventional fluorescent lighting fixture to convert that fixture intoan emergency light which may readily be moved from one fixture toanother as may be required.

Another object is to provide a unit which can detect when theconventional fluorescent light bulbs are OFF and provide a night lightat that time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above and other beneficial objects andadvantages are attained in accordance with the present invention byproviding an auxiliary lighting unit for use with a fluorescent lightingfixture of the type having a ballast well recessed in the rear of thefixture. The auxiliary unit comprises a cover plate for the ballast welladapted to be removably attached to the fixture. A selfcontained powersource is attached to the cover extending into the ballast well. A lightbulb mounting socket is attached to the cover adapted to support a bulbtoward the front of the fixture. Switch means interconnect the bulbsocket and power supply and means are provided for normally holding theswitch means OFF but adapted to turn the switch means ON in the event ofa disruption in normal electrical service. The unit further includes anindicator mounted to the cover and readily visible through the fixturediffuser to give visible indication of the emergency light fixture. Theindicator comprises a test switch operable through the diffuser topermit checking of the emergency unit without requiring anydisassembling of the light fixture.

The unit may further include a second switch operable through aphotoelectric cell to interconnect the emergency bulb with the mainpower supply. This enables the present auxiliary unit to act as a nightlight when the main lights are off.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a fluorescent light fixtureincorporating an auxiliary light unit in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the fixture;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along reference lines 3-3 of FIG. 1 inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the auxiliary lighting unit of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram for the auxiliary lighting unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now madeto the drawings wherein similar components bear the same referencenumeral throughout the several views. Accordingly, the present inventionrelates to an auxiliary lighting unit 10 adapted for use with afluorescent fixture 12 of the type comprising a troffer 14 having aballast well 16 recessed in the rear wall 18 of the fixture. The fixture12 is a conventional fluorescent fixture having side walls 20 and rearwall 18 formed by the troffer and a diffuser plate 22 which extendsacross the troffer front. While this preferred embodiment will bedescribed in connection with a fluorescent fixture having a troffer, itshould be understood that the invention is equally applicable to manyother types of fluorescent fixtures such as an industrial or surfacemounted box or indeed any fixture having room therein for the additionalhardware.

The diffuser plate 22 issupported by frame 24 which is hinged at 26 toprovide access to the interior of the fixture to permit inserting andremoval of the conven tional fluorescent bulbs 28 mounted therein toappropriate sockets 30. A transformer 32 and the associated leads forelectrical interconnection with the various sockets 30 are carried inthe ballast well 16 along with the leads from the line voltage supply.Normally, well 16 is covered by a plate provided with slots and tabsthat engage appropriate mating parts 34 formed in the rear of thetroffer adjacent the well.

In accordance with the present invention, the conventional ballast wellcovering plate is replaced by the auxiliary lighting unit 10 whichcomprises an elongated member 36, V-shaped in section. The free edges ofmember 36 are provided with appropriate slots 38 and tabs 40 to engagethe slots and tabs 34 of the fixture in the same manner as theconventional cover plate. Mounted to an exterior surface 42 of member 36are a pair of spaced sockets 44 adapted to receive a low wattage bulb 46therebetween and make appropriate electrical contact with the bulb.Generally, the rating of bulb 46 will not exceed 40 watts and the bulbwill be rapid start.

Mounted to the surface 48 opposite surface 42 and extending toward theballast well are the electrical components 50 associated with thepresent emergency lighting unit. These components include a transfonner52, rectifier 54 and rechargeable battery 56 and an inverter (ifrequired which converts the output of the battery to AC. The transformer52 is connected through leads 58 and 60 to the line voltage supplyavailable in the ballast well for feeding bulbs 28. The battery 56 isconnected to emergency lamp 46 through relay 59 which is also connectedto the line voltage through leads 62 and 64. Relay 59 serves as a switchwhich is normally held OFF by an appearance of current on line 62 and64. Inthe event of an absence of current on line 62-64, relay 59switches ON thereby directly connecting lamp 46 with battery 56 so thatthe battery serves to light the lamp. At times when the battery is notbeing drained by lamp 46 it is constantly being charged from the linevoltage through transformer 52 and rectifier 54. To this end, rectifier54 may also include appropri ate limiting circuitry to preventovercharging and damage to the rechargeable batteries.

In addition to relay 59 tripping in the event of a power shortage, atest switch 66 is provided to manually trip the relay. As shown in FIG.3, switch 66 includes a push button or detent 68 which rests on thediffuser panel 22. Since the diffuser panel 22 rides loosely in frame24, it may readily be pushed upwardly to enable tripping of switch 66without requiring opening of the frame. In addition, the detent 68 maybe brightly colored so as to give ready indication of the emergencyunits presence in the fixture.

As previously stated, elongated member 36 is dimensioned to replace theconventional cover for ballast well 16 and engage the troffer in thesame manner as the conventional ballast cover. Further, the only leadsthat need be connected to render the unit operational are 58 and 60.Thus, if for any reason the unit has to be removed from one lightingfixture to another, all that need be done is to electrically disconnectleads 58 and 60 from the'power supply and mechanically disconnect tabsand slots 38 and 40 from the mating parts 34 of the troffer. The entireemergency unit may then be moved to another fixture where the existingballast cover is removed and replaced by the present unit after leads 58and 60 are appropriately connected.

Another feature of the present unit is a photocell 70 mounted to member36 and sighting on fluorescent bulb 28. The photocell serves to controlswitch 72 to maintain the switch open wehn incident light reaches itsactive surface and to allow switch 72 to close when incident light isremoved. The switch 72 is in one leg 74 of a circuit extending from themain power supply to bulb 46, the other leg of the circuit being lead76. As long as bulb 28 remains lit, the photocell serves to keep openthe circuit between the main power supply and emergency bulb 46.However, if the bulb 28 is turned off, switch 72 closes connecting theemergency bulb to the main power source thereby enabling the emergencybulb to serve as a night light which automatically goes on when the mainlights are turned off. It should be ap parent that leads 58, 62 and 76may be connected to a single wire 78 and similarly leads 60, 64 and 74may be connected to a single wire 80 so that the presentunit can befully installed electrically merely by connecting leads 78 and 80 to themain power supply.

Thus, in accordance with the above, the aforementioned objects andadvantages are effectively attained.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. In a fluorescentfixture of the type adapted to be connected to a line voltage source toprovide current to at least one conventional fluorescent light bulb andincluding means for connection to the line voltage source; a fixturerear wall; an open front section opposite the rear wall; a ballast wellrecessed in the rear wall; securing means formed in the rear wall; and aballast well cover removably attached to the rear wall securing meansoverlying and covering the ballast well; the improvement comprising: anelongated cover member; securing means attached to said elongated covermember, to mate with said rear wall securing means to removably securesaid elongated cover member to said rear wall when said ballast wellcover is removed from said rear wall; a self contained power sourceattached to said elongated cover member; light bulb mounting meansattached to said cover member; switch means secured to said cover memberand interconnecting said bulb mounting means and self contained powersource, said switch means normally being held in an OFF position andadapted to switch to an ON position in the event of a disruption of saidline voltage source so as to provide an auxiliary lighting unit whichcan readily be removed from one fixture for attachment to anotherfixture as required to convert the fixture to which it is attached to anemergency lighting fixture.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fixtureincludes a diffuser plate overlying said fixture from section andfurther comprising indicator means connected to said cover and mountedin position to be visible through said diffuser plate.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising testcircuit means connected to said switch means and manually operabletoshift from a first, inactive position to a second position shiftingsaid switch means to said ON position and disrupting a connectionbetween said line voltage source and connection means.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fixtureincludes adiffuser plate overlying said fixture front, said diffuserplate being shiftable to some degree from said fixture front towardthefixture rear, and said test means includes portions in engagementwith said diffuser plate and adapted to move therewith whereby when saiddiffuser plate is shifted rearwardly, said test means shifts from saidfirst to said second position.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising secondswitch means connected to said line voltage source, connecting meansextending between said bulb mounting means and second switch means andadapted to be connected to said line voltage source through said secondswitch means.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 further comprising aphotoelectric cell mounted to said cover to receive light from saidconventional fluorescent light bulb, said photoelectric cell being incontrolling relationship with said second switch means to maintain saidsecond switch means open when incident light is received from saidconventional bulb and to close said second switch means in the absenceof incident light from said fluorescent bulb.

1. In a fluorescent fixture of the type adapted to be connected to aline voltage source to provide current to at least one conventionalfluorescent light bulb and including means for connection to the linevoltage source; a fixture rear wall; an open front section opposite therear wall; a ballast well recessed in the rear wall; securing meansformed in the rear wall; and a ballast well cover removably attached tothe rear wall securing means overlying and covering the ballast well;the improvement comprising: an elongated cover member; securing meansattached to said elongated cover member to mate with said rear wallsecuring means to removably secure said elongated cover member to saidrear wall when said ballast well cover is removed from said rear wall; aself contained power source attached to said elongated cover member;light bulb mounting means attached to said cover member; switch meanssecured to said cover member and interconnecting said bulb mountingmeans and self contained power source, said switch means normally beinGheld in an OFF position and adapted to switch to an ON position in theevent of a disruption of said line voltage source so as to provide anauxiliary lighting unit which can readily be removed from one fixturefor attachment to another fixture as required to convert the fixture towhich it is attached to an emergency lighting fixture.
 2. The inventionin accordance with claim 1 wherein said fixture includes a diffuserplate overlying said fixture front section and further comprisingindicator means connected to said cover and mounted in position to bevisible through said diffuser plate.
 3. The invention in accordance withclaim 1 further comprising test circuit means connected to said switchmeans and manually operable to shift from a first, inactive position toa second position shifting said switch means to said ON position anddisrupting a connection between said line voltage source and connectionmeans.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fixtureincludes a diffuser plate overlying said fixture front, said diffuserplate being shiftable to some degree from said fixture front toward thefixture rear, and said test means includes portions in engagement withsaid diffuser plate and adapted to move therewith whereby when saiddiffuser plate is shifted rearwardly, said test means shifts from saidfirst to said second position.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim1 further comprising second switch means connected to said line voltagesource, connecting means extending between said bulb mounting means andsecond switch means and adapted to be connected to said line voltagesource through said second switch means.
 6. The invention in accordancewith claim 5 further comprising a photoelectric cell mounted to saidcover to receive light from said conventional fluorescent light bulb,said photoelectric cell being in controlling relationship with saidsecond switch means to maintain said second switch means open whenincident light is received from said conventional bulb and to close saidsecond switch means in the absence of incident light from saidfluorescent bulb.